Zenith in Love (Zenith Series #5) - Leanne Davis Page 0,1
of Kayla. Where Kayla had enjoyed years of partying and dating, her sister had spent her time with only one man.
“Surprise!” She squeezed her sister’s hand.
“You never come here unannounced.” It was so easy to please her sister.
“I wanted to hear you sing.” Her sister’s voice was rich and haunting and Kathy could easily pursue a career as a solo singer. Of course, their stepdad Rob was the lead singer in the famous rock band Zenith. His experience and connections would ensure that she made it in the business. But Kathy suffered from debilitating stage fright, and preferred to sing Christian music exclusively. She sang with the choir at church every Sunday, but not alone. She seemed much happier ever since becoming the music director there.
“How long will you be home this time?”
“Just until Wednesday.”
“That’s great. Come, let’s eat something at the reception.” She turned to Jim and asked, “Join us?”
He smiled at her but it immediately vanished when Kathy passed him and he was faced with Kayla. “Of course.”
She smirked. Jim did not want to join them. Not with Kayla there. But here he was.
“So tell me everything that’s new. How is school? When will next quarter start? How are you?” She fell into step with Kathy who was always so genuinely interested. The best sister a girl could have really. Even someone as selfish and undeserving as Kayla. Kathy would’ve killed to go to college, but she didn’t have the good grades and struggled so hard in school she believed she couldn’t do it. Kayla’s academic life was what Kathy longed to experience. But Kathy never whined about it. In fact, she did nothing but celebrate it. Always eager to hear Kayla’s details. In-depth. But never in a jealous or snide way. She swore Kathy was too good for such normal reactions. She envied her goodness but never tried to emulate it. Kayla knew that was a no-go and learned to embrace herself as she was.
She sat at the church social and ate the fattening, homemade desserts that were so good. Chatting about school and Kathy’s song and Rob’s latest hit and Mom’s plan to write a new series of books, they all caught up on their lives while Jim listened quietly.
Interjecting his opinion here and there, Jim kept being interrupted by parishioners who wanted to speak to him or say goodbye. Jim got up more than once to speak with them and then he sat down again.
Kathy left to go to the restroom. She gave Jim an assessing look.
“What,” he snapped at her perusal.
“Don’t you ever get sick of being so damn nice? I mean, the way they all want to hug and touch you? That’d drive me crazy. And having to always be so nice…”
“Well, it’s part of the job. I can’t really snap at them and snarl that I’m not in the mood so go away, now can I?”
“But you don’t always feel so upbeat, do you? I mean, don’t you have bad moods when you don’t want to do this shtick on some Sundays?”
Jim actually glanced around to see if anyone were within hearing distance, like Kathy, who thought he was too good. “Sometimes, I might be… glad when it’s over.”
“Even with Mr. Hermione? He stinks.”
Jim actually laughed but quickly caught himself and stopped. Dropping his face into a stern reprimand, he said, “He could stand to shower more often. Yes. But he—”
“Don’t tell me he means well. He’s rich as sin, strange as all get out, and he uses his donations as a bribe to get what he really wants. He all but sexually harasses Kathy, although she’s too damn nice to say anything. Or even think that he’s doing it.”
He flinched. “Can you not swear in here? It’s a church, Kayla… I mean, everyone gets that caveat. Even you should observe it.”
She rolled her eyes. “I always have. I don’t pretend to be something I’m not no matter where I am. I don’t get it. In God’s house, why can’t you fully be yourself? Huh, Jim? Since God sees you everywhere anyway, why pretend to be otherwise? He knows, right? So I’m just being the same old me. Whether I’m here or at the grocery store. And news flash: God has yet to strike me dead.”
“That too… why do you have to be so antagonistic all the time?”
“Why don’t you tell the man who bribes you and slathers his breath all over your fiancée to go to hell? Too good for that,